God Will Defend Us | Vengeance is His | It's not Up to Us to Get Even | Seek First the Kingdom of God & He Will Fight Your Battles | Paul Stayed in Corinth for One & half Year Teaching the Word of God | Ending His Second Missionary Journey | Every Church Should Be Teaching the Word of God Faithfully | Importance of the Word in Our Life | To Be Fed Spiritually Stay in the Word | False Prophets in Time of Jeremiah Would Speak Their Empty Dreams | We Are to Speak God's Word Faithfully | God Never Makes Mistake | His Word is Like Consuming Fire with True Power | Word is Just - if It's in Your Heart It Brings Stability | Paul Faced Opposition Wherever He Went | Paul Accused by Jews of Breaking the Roman Law | Yet the Governor Gallio Didn't Want to Judge Spiritual Matters | God was Paul's Defense | God Gives Us Peace | His Hand is on Us | If God Wouldn't Be on Our Side Fighting Our Battles We Would Be Overwhelmed & Defeated | Lord Who Made Heaven & Earth | My Rock & Salvation | My Defense - I Shall Not Be Moved | Trust in Him at All Times | Lord Is Our Shield & Glory - the Lifter of My Head | Don't Be Consumed with Your Problems | Your Help Comes from the Lord | His Blessing is Ours | The Governor Drove Paul's Accusers Out | Sosthenes the Ruler of the Synagogue Was Beaten by the Greeks | Crispus the Previous Leader of the Synagogue Became Believer | Sosthenes Became a Believer as Well | Answered Prayer - Several of California's Planned Parenthood Are Forced to Close After the Government Cut Funding | If You Respond to God's Call He Will Fight Your Enemies | Lord Will Defeat Them | Most Likely Paul Took the Nazarite Vow to Thank God for His Protection | Paul's Hair Was Shaved | Are to Be Separated to God - Holy | Commit Our Lives to God | God Has a Plan for Each of Us - Don't Miss Out on His Purpose | His Will Be Done | Paul Came to Ephesus & Went to the Synagogue | They Asked Him to Stay Longer | But Paul Had to Go to Jerusalem to Fulfill His Vow for the Feast of Passover | Paul: Lord Willing I Will Return | God's Word is Lamp to Our Feet | Our Plans May Differ from God's - Sin | As We Don't Know What Will Happen Tomorrow | Our Life is Just a Vapor | Paul Landed in Caesarea & Went Down to Antioch His Home Church | End of His 2nd Missionary Journey | God Promises Great Things to Those Who Love Him | He Will Use Adversity to Mature & Strengthen Us | Rapture of the Church Can Happen at Any Time | Our Peace Comes from the Lord | Harvest is Plentiful Workers Are Few | Be the Vessels of Honor |

Sermon Summary: Emphasizes that God is our defender and protector when we face opposition and attacks. Pastor Joe teaches that when believers are being used by God, they will face opposition, but God fights our battles when we seek Him first. The message highlights Paul's experience in Corinth where God supernaturally defended him against false accusations without Paul having to speak a word. The sermon encourages believers to trust God's defense rather than trying to defend themselves, to maintain peace in difficult circumstances, and to keep their focus on God rather than being consumed by problems. A key theme is that total consecration to God—like Paul's Nazarite vow—brings God's protection and blessing. The message concludes with an urgent gospel invitation, reminding listeners that salvation is a free gift through Jesus Christ that must be received today.

Key Points:
- God is our defender when we are attacked or wronged; vengeance belongs to the Lord
- When we seek first God's kingdom and put Him first, He will defend us and fight our battles
- The early church devoted themselves to teaching the Word of God, which should be our model
- God's Word is powerful—it's like fire and a hammer, providing stability and wisdom for our lives
- Opposition will come when we are being used by God and walking in the Spirit
- We should pray before defending ourselves and allow God to be our defense
- God sometimes deals harshly with our enemies to wake them up spiritually (example: Sosthenes)
- God's will and plan for our lives is far better than anything we could plan ourselves
- Believers should not be oppressed or depressed but should look up and keep their focus on God
- The answer to prayer: Planned Parenthood locations closed, demonstrating God's faithfulness

Scripture Reference:

Acts 18:11-23 (primary passage)
Psalm 94 (responsive reading)
Romans 12:19 (vengeance is mine, saith the Lord)
Jeremiah 23:28-29 (God's Word like fire and a hammer)
Psalm 37:30-31 (the law of God in the heart)
Psalm 124 (if the Lord had not been on our side)
Psalm 62:5-8 (God is my defense)
Psalm 3 (God lifts up our head)
1 Corinthians 1:1 (Sosthenes our brother)
Exodus 23:22 (I will be an enemy to your enemies)
Deuteronomy 28:7 (enemies defeated before your face)
Numbers 6 (Nazarite vow)
James 4:13-15 (if the Lord wills)

Scripture:
Romans 12:19 | Jeremiah 23:28-29 | Psalm 37:30-31 | Psalm 124:1-8 | Psalm 62:5-8 | Psalm 3:3-8 | Exodus 23:22 |